Home Schools McNeese State University Nursing
Health Professions · Nursing Rank #210 of 990

Nursingat McNeese State University

Graduates earn $77,239/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $831K; scenarios range from $726K to $834K depending on AI disruption.

Lake Charles, LA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
85 ELITE
85
Optimistic
82
Pessimistic
Earnings
$77,239
1-year post-graduation
ROI
20.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$831K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
43% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at McNeese State University

Graduates earn $77,239/yr, roughly in line with the $75,273 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 24.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $77,239 far exceeding the $23,011 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #210 out of 990 programs, McNeese State University's Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$726K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score82/100
Earnings Multiple21.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$831K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score85/100
Earnings Multiple24.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$834K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score85/100
Earnings Multiple24.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to McNeese State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Nursing graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Nurse anesthetists
+8.6% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$223,210/yr
Low
2
Nurse practitioners
+40.1% 10-yr growth · 29,500 openings/yr
$129,210/yr
Moderate
3
Nurse midwives
+11.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$128,790/yr
Moderate
4
Medical and health services managers
+23.2% 10-yr growth · 62,100 openings/yr
$117,960/yr
Moderate
5
Registered nurses
+4.9% 10-yr growth · 189,100 openings/yr
$93,600/yr
Moderate
6
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
+16.8% 10-yr growth · 8,600 openings/yr
$79,940/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Nursing

How McNeese State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Sonoma State University
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$126K
1-yr earn
39.1x
ROI
California State University-East Bay
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$124K
1-yr earn
56.0x
ROI
Samuel Merritt University
CA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
California State University-Stanislaus
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
38.2x
ROI
Pacific Union College
CA · Private nonprofit
82
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
8.9x
ROI
Also at McNeese State University

Other top programs at McNeese State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at McNeese State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Nursing offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Nursing trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Nursing at McNeese State University

How does McNeese State University's Nursing program score?

A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. McNeese State University's Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Nursing careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 39% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does McNeese State University rank so high for Nursing?

The #210 ranking out of 990 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.